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Bandhu Social Welfare Society Shale Ahmed, Executive Director E-mail: shale@bandhu-bd.org

District Level Lawyers Group (DLLG): A Place to Create an Enabling Environment of sexual minorities in Bangladesh. Bandhu Social Welfare Society Shale Ahmed, Executive Director E-mail: shale@bandhu-bd.org Phone:880-2-9356868/ 9339898. Why DLLG:.

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Bandhu Social Welfare Society Shale Ahmed, Executive Director E-mail: shale@bandhu-bd.org

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  1. District Level Lawyers Group (DLLG): A Place to Create an Enabling Environment of sexual minorities in Bangladesh Bandhu Social Welfare Society Shale Ahmed, Executive Director E-mail: shale@bandhu-bd.org Phone:880-2-9356868/ 9339898

  2. Why DLLG: Under existing Bangladeshi Law (Penal Code-377-of unnatural offence) “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, women or animal, shall punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine” • Communities affected by section 377 BPC, Section 54 CrPC, section 86 • Organization that works with and serve them need to stand together and raise their voice • Pressure to the government and ones follow until the law changed • Speaking the language of the law will help facilitate this process • Therefore established the group in District level in 2007

  3. Promising Practices: • Currently there are six DLLG in the country • Each group consists of 10-15 members, young and energetic advocates with strong interest in human rights • Each group leaded by a co-coordinator • Each DLLG meets every six months • The first national round table meeting of DLLG members took place in April 2008

  4. Promising Practices: cont… The role of DLLG is three-fold: • Sensitizing local advocates, government officials and other key stakeholders • Providing legal support and protection for local MSM and Hijra/TG communities • Raising a voice on behalf of the community members to advocacy policy reform

  5. IMPACT • MSM and Hijra communities are often badly discriminated against their families. • DLLG regularly attend community social group meeting and lead discussion sessions about Bangladeshi law and legal process. • If communities require legal advices or services, they are referred to members to the DLLG • BSWS now has a network of 70-80 lawyers • These lawyers are important source of information for any legal research undertaken by BSWS • A Dhaka based legal officer is now the focal person to communicate with the DLLG

  6. Challenges: • Identifying DLLG members was significant challenges • The Dhaka based legal officer spent several months for contacting and meeting with potential members. • As stigma and discrimination against MSM and Hijra is common place in Bangladesh, it proved difficult to find sympathized advocates with the communities • Willing to undertake voluntary work • Six months between meetings is a sizeable gap to keep track on communication • Sometimes the community members are reluctant to actively seek legal support

  7. What Next: • Establish DLLG group in every district in Bangladesh • One or two representatives from each group would form a national group which would lobby the government on MSM and Hijra/TG issues. • Following an initial period of capacity building it is envisaged that DLLG network would operate independently • Involved the group with national MSM, Hijra/TG HIV and Human rights taskforce • BSWS wish to see changes in legislation affecting MSM and Hijra/TG communities passed through government very soon

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